On the brink of extinction

The Brenton Blue (Orachrysops niobe - Lycaenidae) is a small butterfly that breeds on less than 2 hectares of coastal fynbos at Brenton-on-Sea near Knysna. This now unique breeding ground is about to be destroyed to make way for a few holiday homes - an act that will result in the extinction of the species.

We are still unravelling the mysteries surrounding the life history of this butterfly. We know that its larvae only feed on one species of plant - Indigofera erecta - a small pink flowered member of the Pea family (Fabaceae).The site at Brenton is unique because of the large and healthy population of food plant growing there. Factors promoting such a situation include microclimate, soil composition and absence of dense growth of larger shrubs and bushes which would shade out the food plant. The required microclimate can only be found in high rainfall regions close to the sea on southward facing slopes which are subject to regular misty conditions from cold offshore currents. These conditions are only found along the South Cape coast between Storms River and Mossel Bay - coinciding with the known occurences of the food plant. The Brenton Blue itself seems to be even more restricted, because in the 120 years since its discovery it has only been recorded from two localities - one at Nature's Valley where it is now extinct, and the site at Brenton.

Consequently this site, occupying a very small piece of land, is utterly critical to the Brenton Blue's survival, and to ensure the long-term survival of this species, it is essential that this precious piece of fynbos be secured for posterity and established as a butterfly nature reserve.